Series up for grabs as Zimbabwe seek bowling lift
Zimbabwe go into the third ODI against New Zealand with the chance of pulling off a rare series win
The Preview by Karthik Krishnaswamy
06-Aug-2015
Match facts
Friday, August 7, 2015, Harare
Start time 09.00 local (07.00 GMT)
Start time 09.00 local (07.00 GMT)
Big Picture
Zimbabwe's last ODI trophy came in May 2013, when they beat Bangladesh 2-1 at home. Their last ODI series win against a Test-playing opponent other than Bangladesh came in January 2001, when they beat New Zealand 2-1 in New Zealand. Now, against the same opponents, they have a chance to end those years of wait.
New Zealand, though, are distinct favourites going into the decider, particularly given the way they won the second ODI. The bowlers, having betrayed their inexperience and unfamiliarity with the conditions in the first ODI, exploited the early help from the Harare Sports Club pitch and had Zimbabwe five down for 68. Sikandar Raza inspired a recovery to a total of 235, but that proved entirely inadequate, for two reasons - it was never going to test a powerful New Zealand line-up on a pitch that had eased up considerably; and Zimbabwe simply didn't have the bowling firepower.
Zimbabwe will need to remedy that somehow. It's hard to see how they can do that with the attack they used in the first two ODIs. The four specialist bowlers who played those two games - Tinashe Panyangara, Christopher Mpofu, Graeme Cremer and Prosper Utseya - have together taken 16 wickets this year at an average of 91.25. Inspiration will have to come from somewhere, within or outside that group.
Having chosen to bowl in the series opener and in each of the three ODIs against India, Elton Chigumbura went against the grain and batted on Tuesday. It looked a drier pitch than normal, but it played much like any recent Harare pitch: nibble and bounce for the new ball early on and slow and flat thereafter. Unless conditions change dramatically, it's hard to see either captain wanting to bat first on Thursday.
Form guide
Zimbabwe: LWLLL
New Zealand: WLLLW
New Zealand: WLLLW
Players to watch
Since scoring back-to-back hundreds against Pakistan and India, Elton Chigumbura's ODI innings have brought him scores of 9, 10, 26 and 5. The Zimbabwe captain is due for runs, and what better occasion to score runs than a series decider?
Mitchell McClenaghan has looked good right through the series, particularly while harrying Zimbabwe's top order with bounce and hostility in the second ODI. He only has one wicket to show for his efforts, though, and will want to finish the series with a better average than 102.
Team news
Zimbabwe have replaced Vusi Sibanda with Malcom Waller in their squad. Their bowling underwhelmed once again as they failed to pick up a single wicket in the second ODI. They could look to shake things up a little by including Neville Madziva, who picked up six wickets in two ODIs against India, or the offspinner John Nyumbu.
Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Chamu Chibhabha, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Elton Chigumbura (capt), 5 Sean Williams, 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Regis Chakabva (wk), 8 Graeme Cremer, 9 Prosper Utseya /John Nyumbu, 10 Tinashe Panyangara, 11 Christopher Mpofu/Neville Madziva
New Zealand have revealed they will not rush Adam Milne back to action as he recovers from a minor niggle. James Neesham should be fit again, after sitting out the second ODI with soreness.
New Zealand (probable): 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Colin Munro/James Neesham, 7 Luke Ronchi, 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Mitchell McClenaghan, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Ish Sodhi
Stats and trivia
- Kane Williamson (1134), Martin Guptill (1107) and Ross Taylor (1041) are the three highest ODI run-getters this year. So far, Tillakaratne Dilshan (1003) is the only non-New Zealand batsman with 1000 ODI runs this year.
- Roger Twose, who achieved the feat in 2000, is the only other New Zealand batsman to score 1000 ODI runs in a calendar year.
- The unbroken 236-run partnership between Martin Guptill and Tom Latham on Tuesday was the 12th double-century stand in ODIs this year, and the fourth conceded by Zimbabwe.
Quotes
"Whether it's the bat or the ball, it's important to deal with the first hour. The ball does some funny things, not so much seam but it holds in the wicket and hits the top of the bat a lot and is very difficult to score."
New Zealand coach Mike Hesson on the challenges of the Harare Sports Club pitch
New Zealand coach Mike Hesson on the challenges of the Harare Sports Club pitch
Karthik Krishnaswamy is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo